7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025)

Post Published January 12, 2025

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7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Capital One Venture X 75,000 Miles Bonus After $4,000 Spend Within 3 Months





The Capital One Venture X Rewards card is currently presenting a strong sign-up offer: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first three months. Experts are placing the value of these miles at around $1,388, which certainly makes this bonus worthwhile. The earning potential of this card isn't bad either. You get a decent 2x on all purchases, and better yet, 10x on hotels and rental cars plus 5x on flights through their portal. It's aiming for that premium traveler, and it's certainly offering compelling benefits. It's not the only one with similar bonuses, another Capital One card matches the 75,000 miles offer as well. This one, however, stands out because it's clearly positioned as a high-end offering with premium travel perks.

The Capital One Venture X card is currently advertising a 75,000-mile bonus, which seems substantial given you need to spend $4,000 within the first three months. The advertised value of those miles is quite interesting, especially given the varying valuations by different sources. Some experts put it close to $1,400 in travel value (for instance if you book with Capital One) while other more conservative valuations peg each mile at around 1.7 cents, which equates to approximately $1275 overall. The card structure is also built around accumulation, so 10x on Hotels and rentals, 5X on flights and 2x on everything else. You should also know that Capital One has a very similar offer of 75,000 bonus miles with their regular venture card and different versions with varying benefits. For example the VentureOne has only a 20,000 bonus after $500 spend. So, it really depends on your spend patterns and the flexibility you value. Clearly, the Venture X is seen as premium option.

But let's dig deeper here; while the sign-up bonus catches the eye, one should be thinking hard about actual utilization. Capital One claims you can redeem these miles through their portal for travel purchases, effectively reducing your out-of-pocket travel expenses. What is interesting is that they also allow transferring miles to a broad network of loyalty programs (over 15). These transfer at a 1:1 ratio, implying that you can book hotels or flights directly with airline or hotel programs. This potentially allows for booking in business or first class. If you’re an airport lounge person, this card includes a Priority Pass membership, granting access to over 1300 lounges globally. Given many of those are not stellar, a question arises if this justifies the premium nature of the card. This is further supported by zero foreign transaction fees, a useful thing. On the spending side of things you do get 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and 5x on bookings made through their travel portal. Whether the portal has the best rates or not remains a open question.

A further analysis might also look at their annual $300 travel credit. Does it really offset the yearly fee? Well if you travel often then you could potentially gain back the full value with the included lounge access and such. There are more things included, the card mentions included travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation. All this begs the question: Are we actually getting more “value” or is this just "churning" of miles with lots of complexity? Finally, there are mentions of potential perks such as new airline routes, access to culinary experiences which further enhances the program's perceived value, particularly if you consider it more than just "cheap" travel. It's certainly worth taking into account the potential increased point value of hotel bookings via Capital One, offering luxury stay possibilities for fewer miles than initially expected.

What else is in this post?

  1. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Capital One Venture X 75,000 Miles Bonus After $4,000 Spend Within 3 Months
  2. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card 90,000 Miles Welcome Bonus With $6,000 Spend
  3. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Chase IHG Premier Business Card 200,000 Points Sign-up Bonus
  4. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - American Express Platinum 150,000 Points After $8,000 Spend Within 6 Months
  5. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Citi Premier Card 80,000 Points Welcome Bonus With $4,000 Spend
  6. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - United Club Infinite Card 100,000 Miles After $5,000 Spend Within 3 Months
  7. 7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Chase Sapphire Preferred 70,000 Points After $4,000 Spend Within 3 Months

7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card 90,000 Miles Welcome Bonus With $6,000 Spend





7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025)

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is currently offering a substantial 90,000-mile welcome bonus once you spend $6,000 in the first six months. This card is aimed directly at those who frequently fly Delta, providing specific perks like entry to Delta Sky Clubs and ways to earn elite status by using the card. The annual fee of $650 is certainly a point of consideration, and whether it is worth the money very much depends on how often you fly with Delta. While this card presents a great entry point for the most frequent Delta passengers, it is debatable if the limited earning rate for purchases outside the airline truly makes it a good deal compared to other travel credit options that might be more widely applicable. The bonus is attractive, but the card's focused benefits and high annual fee warrant some deeper thought if you aren’t solely flying Delta.

Okay, let's look at another potentially interesting offer for January 2025. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is currently advertising a 90,000 mile welcome bonus. That looks pretty good, but only if you are willing to spend $6,000 in the first three months after opening the account. These miles could, theoretically, be worth up to $1,800 if you manage to book premium cabin travel. Miles in the Delta system are not just for flights; they can also be redeemed for upgrades, car rentals, and hotel stays, adding some flexibility. This flexibility makes a big difference depending on travel preferences.

The SkyMiles program partners with numerous international airlines so you can potentially book travel on more than 20 different carriers. This means that your travel possibilities go well beyond Delta’s direct destinations. The Delta Sky Club lounge access with the card (when flying Delta), while limited to 15 visits per year, could save you considerable money per visit (usually costing around $59), if you happen to like airline lounges. Delta has also been adding new domestic and international routes like non-stop service to cities such as Paris and Tokyo. This means that your SkyMiles could potentially be more valuable if you value non-stop routes.

Unlike many of their competitors, SkyMiles do not expire if you are a frequent flyer, or are actively using the account. That takes away pressure to use them quickly if your travel plans are flexible. One thing to note, the card awards 3x miles on Delta purchases, which seems interesting. It also has a potentially interesting structure for larger purchases offering 1.5x miles on purchases over $5,000. Delta seems to be investing a lot in new aircraft with improved seating, particularly in the business class, making the experience of booking premium seats more interesting.

Finally, the card does offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, which is a potentially useful perk for people who value ease of airport navigation. So, while the sign up bonus looks interesting there are many other factors one might want to consider and ultimately it might depend on your individual travel preferences and spending patterns.



7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Chase IHG Premier Business Card 200,000 Points Sign-up Bonus





The Chase IHG Premier Business Card has upped the ante with a sign-up bonus of 200,000 IHG points, the largest we’ve seen for this card. The catch to gain the full benefit, new users must spend $9,000 in the initial six months. This is quite a hurdle for anyone who does not use the card extensively, but could be interesting for small businesses who have a lot of expenses, however, it requires a rather substantial initial spend. It is also something to consider since the offer isn't openly advertised on IHG or Chase websites and requires a special link. While this isn't uncommon for credit card sign-up offers, it is an extra step one has to make, it should be easy to find it via popular travel blogs (but remember this information might not be true when reading it in the future). Given the annual fee of $99 is rather low for business cards aimed at the travel market, this might be interesting if you are a frequent traveller to IHG properties and are considering more luxurious stays. You could, potentially, unlock free hotel nights and other perks. If you are not a frequent IHG customer, consider that it will take some time to accumulate that many points. Remember, the card is only beneficial if it fits within your spending habits and travel patterns. This promotional offer is back again after fluctuating in the past.

The Chase IHG Premier Business Card is offering a very large sign-up bonus this January 2025, a whooping 200,000 IHG points. One can expect about 40 nights in hotels ranging from basic Holiday Inn properties to premium options within their portfolio like InterContinental. The actual "value" one can derive varies a lot. Unlike the Capital One cards it seems the best approach is booking directly in the IHG network. So, while flexibility is not exactly the strength of this option, the high number of points could potentially land some great bookings.

IHG claims they allow points redemption for dining, various activities and merchandise, which is often a sign of decreased value, as those are rarely the best use. Still the card does have potential. It earns 3x points on typical travel and dining expenses, plus 10x points specifically on stays at IHG hotels. Such accumulation is good for business travelers and frequent hotel guests. An additional benefit is an annual free night certificate, limited to properties at or below 40,000 points, which could be worth as much as 400 dollars.

Another useful advantage is the lack of foreign transaction fees, always a benefit if one travels overseas. The card awards IHG Platinum Elite status upon acceptance, something that some other cards like the Delta do not offer. This includes the possibility of room upgrades and late check-outs. It's all good when it works, but keep in mind that such upgrades are never guaranteed.

For those holding other Chase cards, a transfer of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the IHG program is possible at a 1:1 ratio which makes things interesting if you can move around your points. While most places value those points at less than one cent each, I find that during peak travel and at luxury hotels this can go much higher. With an extensive portfolio spanning nearly 100 countries, IHG offers a massive list of locations and opportunities for its members. With some strategy, card holders might also get access to exclusive promotions and bonus point offerings over time, again another sign for the dedicated hotel aficionado. The IHG Premier Business card seems a very targeted product.



7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - American Express Platinum 150,000 Points After $8,000 Spend Within 6 Months





7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025)

The American Express Platinum Card is now presenting a 150,000 Membership Rewards points bonus after spending $8,000 in the first six months. The draw here is obviously the big chunk of points. Frequent travelers might like these since they could be used for flights, hotels and other expenses. The Amex Platinum is usually linked to premium perks, such as airport lounge access, travel insurance and dedicated concierge services. However, given all the credit card competition you might want to think hard if that high annual fee, which is typical for premium cards, plus the benefits really work for you. Given the higher demand for travel, check closely what’s available right now in terms of bonuses and whether other similar options match your personal needs and travel preferences.

Alright, let's examine this American Express Platinum card offering. It's touting a 150,000 Membership Rewards point bonus after you spend $8,000 in the first six months. These points, from a raw data analysis viewpoint, can be a good return on investment if you plan your redemption strategies carefully. For example, if you book directly in the Amex Travel portal and target premium cabin flights, you can get a valuation close to $2,250. But this needs precise execution to reach this potential. What interests me, from an engineering perspective, is how well these points transfer to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. If the 1:1 ratio holds true as advertised you are open to more possibilities, specifically targeted business or first class bookings, however, you must account for program devaluations. This transfer flexibility is a big selling point.

Now, what else is on offer? The card throws in “exclusive events” and experiences like culinary tastings or tours. It almost sounds like a software add-on or an app extension when thought about like that. The question is, how often are these relevant and is it just fluff? Another perk is the $200 airline fee credit which I suppose might actually cover some practical expenses like checked bags and onboard purchases, it's the kind of feature that reduces the overall cost of owning the card but also a way to get you into their ecosystem. Lounges, we have seen those elsewhere, but in this case we talk of access to over 1,300 lounges, including Amex’s Centurion lounges and Priority Pass. This is again, potentially useful if you are a frequent traveller or planning very long trips. I wonder if the number of lounges really matches their potential value. Do they have capacity, how are they designed from a logistical viewpoint?

There are some Hotel Perks, including complimentary elite status in Marriot or Hilton that comes with the card, which can mean upgrades and late checkouts at various establishments. We have seen this mentioned with other cards as well. A credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, again something offered across all similar cards, is useful if you value time efficiency in airports. Like many travel oriented cards there are also no foreign transaction fees. Another thing is their Luxury Hotel Collection where you might get complimentary breakfasts and upgrades at participating hotels. This also could mean cost savings for those that seek a higher level of service. The point system itself seems to be designed around ongoing use, offering 5x on flights and pre-paid hotels via their portal. Again, the "value" you extract from these bonuses depends entirely on how you will utilize their services and book, and for many the best value is from luxury stays that might be less price sensitive. All in all there is some sophistication in the point strategy here if you dive deep, almost like designing a game. This one deserves further scrutiny.



7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Citi Premier Card 80,000 Points Welcome Bonus With $4,000 Spend





The Citi Premier Card is currently highlighting an 80,000 ThankYou Points welcome bonus for new cardmembers who spend $4,000 within the first three months. The value proposition lies in the transferability of these points to various airline and hotel programs. It allows for flexibility when booking hotels or flights directly with these partners, sometimes at a higher value than what the portal itself offers, though that would require quite a bit of research. This is particularly true for those who are interested in higher-end travel experiences. The card also gives 3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and hotels, plus the usual 1 point per dollar for everything else. This mix aims for both regular expenses and specific travel-related spending.

As of January 2025, the Citi Premier Card is consistently brought up among the top travel reward cards with a sign up bonus, so it is not alone in the market. Various similar offers might appeal to a different set of users. But for travelers who appreciate point transferability and the potential to maximize value through loyalty programs, the Citi Premier stands out in a crowded market. This combination of an attractive welcome bonus plus its ongoing earning capacity make it a card to consider for those aiming to get the best out of their travels.

The Citi Premier Card presents a new cardmember bonus of 80,000 points once a $4,000 spend is reached within three months of account activation. While similar sign-up bonuses may appear, this specific one offers a considerable amount of points that can be utilized for travel bookings or hotel stays. If you use Citi's ThankYou portal to redeem those points you get around $1,000 in travel credit. Interestingly, this is not the sole way of applying those points; you can also transfer them to various partner airlines, potentially increasing their value if you target business or first class fares. This opens up more options, but might require some careful calculation of value.

What stands out is the broad earning structure of this card. It awards 3x points for every dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations; a common pattern amongst travel-focused cards, however, this can aid in accumulating points faster for frequent travelers. I have also noticed that even though it lacks the common annual travel credit, travel insurance benefits are part of the package. This can be useful if one's plans suddenly change, and it is worth noting that there are no additional charges when used internationally (no foreign transaction fees). Like many of its competitors Citi also tries to market “exclusive culinary events” for its cardholders. I am a bit critical of this, as the actual perceived value of these can fluctuate depending on the type of traveler.

The validity of the sign-up bonus requires a $4,000 spend within the first three months which is not that unusual, however, some might find this challenging to reach without having specific spending targets. One thing to note: your accumulated points do not vanish if your account is actively used, which means you can accumulate points without being in a rush to utilize them right away, a useful addition for anyone who does not travel regularly or who value flexibility. These points can be used to book flights, hotels, and for various upgrades or experiences. This increases the potential value when planning a trip, specifically if you are considering an upgrade that may otherwise be hard to book during busy seasons.

In comparing the Citi Premier card to other premium travel cards, one might find that it does offer a very interesting alternative, especially considering the flexibility to transfer points to various partner programs. While it may not be perceived as a high-end product, it offers enough value to merit a serious evaluation before moving on with a competing travel card.



7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - United Club Infinite Card 100,000 Miles After $5,000 Spend Within 3 Months





The United Club Infinite Card is currently offering a notable sign-up bonus of 100,000 miles after spending $5,000 within the first three months. This card is crafted for frequent travelers, providing benefits such as access to United Club lounges and complimentary checked bags. Cardholders earn an impressive 4 miles per dollar on United purchases, 2 miles on dining and hotel stays, and 1 mile on all other purchases. With no foreign transaction fees, it’s a solid option for travelers looking to maximize their rewards. However, the $525 annual fee may warrant consideration for those who don't frequently fly with United or utilize its premium benefits.

The United Club Infinite Card has a sign-up bonus of 100,000 miles after spending $5,000 within three months of account opening. It is a travel rewards card seemingly designed for the frequent United traveler, offering various perks such as lounge access and priority boarding. It also comes with benefits for baggage checks, aiming for a more seamless travel experience.

The card awards 4 miles per dollar on purchases with United and a lesser 2 miles for every dollar spent on dining and hotels with a further 1 mile on other categories. This is designed to increase mile accumulation if you plan to spend on these specific things. This makes sense for individuals who frequently use this carrier or are planning on spending money for dining and hotels. The card includes United Club lounge access. Assuming one appreciates having lounge access during travels, this perk can easily save users around $59 per visit, which some consider substantial. This card also lacks any foreign transaction fees, making it a useful choice for trips outside of the USA and allows access to the Star Alliance network, enabling miles to be redeemed for over 26 partner airlines.

Another potential benefit for some users, is that it claims to come with an annual travel credit that could potentially cover a significant chunk of the card's yearly fee as well as MileagePlus Premier status, which can save time by giving priority in boarding, check-in, and baggage handling, something that is sought after by frequent travelers. Additionally, the card is marketed as having various travel insurances. These aim to cover issues, such as trip cancellations or interruptions, again offering some potential security while you are on the road. The miles can be potentially stretched out if you use them for premium seats for business or first class.

The card mentions "exclusive" culinary events; however, that has little value unless you actually plan to utilize it. In this crowded market, this specific card is tailored to United customers who are actively travelling, however, those that are more flexible could consider cards with broader application.



7 Best Current Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses for Travel Rewards (January 2025) - Chase Sapphire Preferred 70,000 Points After $4,000 Spend Within 3 Months





The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is currently offering an enticing sign-up bonus of 70,000 points after spending $4,000 within the first three months. This bonus can be especially appealing for travelers, as the points can be redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, potentially providing a value of around $875. The card also features ongoing rewards that include 2x points on travel and dining, making it a solid choice for those who frequently spend in these categories. With no foreign transaction fees and valuable travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Preferred stands out as a top contender among travel rewards cards in January 2025. However, the $95 annual fee is worth considering, especially if you don’t plan to maximize the card’s benefits.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently promoting a sign-up bonus of 70,000 points after $4,000 is spent in the first three months. For those who travel, these points could be worth approximately $875 when used via the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. A point of interest here is that this translates into roughly 1.25 cents per point when redeeming for travel this way. There might be a better way, but you should consider how much complexity you are willing to dive into. It certainly gives you some potential value at a baseline level.

What caught my attention is the ability to transfer these points to around 14 airline programs, including United and Southwest. That wide array gives flexibility. If one values first or business class travel on specific airlines, the potential value could significantly increase. The benefit comes from strategically aligning the transfer with availability of travel or partner programs. If you like, you are making the most out of the potential of the system when it works this way.

Beyond flights, there's an interesting angle; it looks like Chase wants to let you pay for cooking classes or specific guided tours via the system. Although that is a good idea, I suspect the value you can get this way might not match that of more standard travel rewards (like business class bookings on partner airlines).

It’s worth also highlighting the 3x points earn on dining, which also covers things like takeout and delivery. This seems useful, as this helps in accumulating more points even if you’re not travelling frequently or at all. Another feature that you might overlook is that the card has a primary rental car insurance coverage; this means you might not have to pay extra to the rental company, offering a potential saving.

Another useful thing from a cost perspective is that there are no foreign transaction fees. This is a common feature among many credit cards, however, it is still worth mentioning as there is an opportunity to save around 3% per transaction. You should also look closely into the trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage; this might seem minor, but it could offer financial security when unexpected travel problems arise. I suppose it is useful but hard to quantify unless something happens, then you might be very happy about it.

Keep an eye open for limited promotions: there might be offers for bonus points in specific travel categories, and there are supposed special events and “culinary experiences”. These do add an extra touch and could make the system seem more premium, if you can extract any value from them. Finally, redeeming points for travel through their portal comes with a bonus of up to 25%. It all comes back to how you are strategizing to maximize the point's effectiveness, potentially increasing the "value" of your travels overall.


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